Signal system



c. MUCKENFUSS.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY8-1917.

1,337,021 Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

/l VIA TOE Char/f6 Mu'afenflaa 73y v I? UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

CHARLES MUCKENFUSS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB F ONE-HALF TO HENRY Ii. lvIE'IHAlE I, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed May 8, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES MUoKnN- rUss, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates to an indicator or signal system for use on street railways and the like, so tl at passengers may be informed as to the movements of cars along the line. The device consists essentially of meansfor indicating the movements of the cars, and these means will located in entrances to stores or the like, so that people waiting to take car, may be informed as to the movements of the cars they are interested in. T o the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of he means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a wiring diagram of the device; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the contact box on the line 22, Fig. 3; Fig. 3 i

is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of a trolley pole carrying the contact blocks.

The device consists of a casing or box 1 in which a series of contact arms 20, 21. 22 and 23 are adjustably mounted upon a shaft or rod 3 carried vertically in the casing. These arms have collars 4 which encircle the rod and rest upon pins 5 which are removably mounted in a series of holes 6 drilled in the rod itself. In this way the position of the arms may be changed as desired. The casing consists of a rectangular box with removable slides 7 in the front, having slots 8 therein. These slides will be of different sizes, in order to allow for the adjustment of the arms.

At the sides of the box are mounted two notched strips 18, on which are removably Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920. Serial No. 167,192.

mounted curved contact members 9 over which the rear ends 10 of the contact arms slide. These members have an insulated portion 11 at the center, and the two sides 12 are corrugated in order to slow down the return movement of the arms over the same. At the front of the box coil springs 13 are attached to the arms and to the sides of the box, to hold the arms in their normal central position on the insulated portion of the member. At their outer ends the arms carry balls 1% or the like, which are adapted to be contacted by similar knobs or lugs 30,

ill. 32 and carried by the trolley pole.

In use the casing will be swung from the guy wires close to the trolley wire itself, and it will have mounted within it as many contact arms as there are cars of diFerent destinations which will use that particular trol ley wire. Each car will have the knob or lug on the pole corresponding with one of the arms in the box. As illustrated in Fig. 1, there are four lines of cars using the particular street on which the casing is shown as used. The upper contact arm in the box will be the one used by the Cedar cars, and each car running on the Cedar avenue line will have the knob on the trolley pole. The other three lines, here illustrated as Heights, Wade Park and Euclid, will have corresponding knobs 31, 32 and 33 on the trolley pole, each adapted to contact one of the arms in the casing.

lVhen the trolley pole contacts the arm, it will move the same over one-half of the contact member which will close one of the circuits as indicated in F 1. As soon as the trolley pole has passed, the arm will be released, and will slowly return to its neu tral position due to the action of the coil springs at the front of the box. The return movement will be rather slow, as the arm has to pass over the roughened or corrugated face of the contact member. This will give some little time in which the circuit for that particular arm will be closed. It will be understood that any type of indicating means may be employed, and the bell my be connected in circuit to furnish a warning that a sign or other signal is being operated. The particular type of indicating 4 means employed is entirely arbitrary and will be of course varied to suit local conditions.

The vertical adjustment of the arms is Within the store will be mounted a panel upon which will be a series of indicating signs 35 or a series of annunciators 36 and a bell 37. As indicated in Fig. 1, when the circuit is closed the signs carrying. the names of the car lines will be illuminated, and the annunciators will be so arranged as to point to the lighted signs. As is here shown, the bell 37 is connected in circuit with all of the annunciators, so that it will ring whenever any car closes a circuit. As illustrated, the device is operated from a battery 38, but it will be understood that any convenient source of current may be used, or that the current may be taken from the trolley pole if found desirable.

The casing and the contact arms'are shown as being double, so that the device can be used equally well on a one-track system for indicating the movement of cars in both directions, the indicating panels on either side of the casing. In the case of suburban lines, it is thought that only the bell will be needed, and the annunciators and the illuminated signs will be dispensed with in this case. It is of course understood that either the signs or the annunciators may be used alone if found desirable, or they may be used singly in combination with the bell.

The device is adapted to be used particularly in cities where a number of different street car lines use the same main thorough fare in the central part of the city. The indicator panels will preferably be hung in stores in front of which there is a car stop, so that patrons of the stores may be notifled in time of the movements of the different street cars on the thoroughfare in front of the store. It will of course be understood that the device is not limited to any given number of street car lines, but will be used with as many or as few as operate over the thoroughfare on which the device is placed. In this way the users of the cars can remain under shelter and yet be sure of getting out in time to take the particular car which they may desire.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed,

provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a contact box for use with trolley cars, the combination of a casing, a series of arms pivotally and adjustably mounted in said casing and extending outwardly thereof, contact members having corrugated sur faces adjustably mounted in said casing in contact with said arms, and springs attached to said casing and said arms to maintain .the same in their normal central position.

2. In a contact box for use with trolley cars, the combination of a casing, a series of arms pivotally and adjustably mounted in said casing and extending outwardly thereof, contact members having corrugated surfaces adjustably mounted in said casing in contact with said arms, springs attached to said arms to normally position and return said arms to their neutral position, and removable slotted slides for the front of said casing, said arms extending through such slots.

3. In a contact box for use with trolley cars, the combination of a casing, a rod mounted vertically in said casing, a series of arms pivotally and adjustably mounted in said casing on said rod, and extending outwardly of said casing, contact members having corrugated surfaces, adjustably mounted in said casing in contact with the inner ends of said arms, springs attached to said arms and said casing and adapted to normally position and return said arms to their neutral position, and removable slotted slides for the front of said casing, said arms extending through such slots.

t. In a contact box for use with trolley cars, the combination of a casing, a rod vertically mounted in said casing and having a series of horizontally disposed apertures,

-pins removably and adjustably mounted in such apertures, a series of arms provided with collars adapted to encircle said rod and rest on said pins, notched strips mounted in said casing near the rear thereof, a series of contact members adjustably mounted in such notches in said strips and having corrugated surfaces in contact with the inner ends of said arms, springs attached to said arms and said casing and adapted to normally position and return said arms to their neutral position, and removable slotted slides for the front of said casing, said arms extending through such slots.

Signed by me this 5th day of May, 1917.

CHARLES MUcKENFUss. 

